Foundation Piecing

(Thanks for sticking around readers during my dry spell and these bad night time iPone photos!  If you come back later this week, I will have a giveaway on my blog and on IG for your sticktoitness.)

What use a phone book these days?  

Certainly not for looking up phone numbers.  I bet some of you have never even opened one of these bricks.  In the olden days of the 90's (that's 1990's not 1890's) we actually had to find a phone number we wanted without Google.

I kept a book for purposes other than phone numbers

You can use these pages for foundation piecing blocks

String Block

My original tutorial for this block is here

I wanted to go with a wonky look for a string block I made recently, I wrote up the steps to make this popular String Block Wonky version

Frist cut your foundation phone book pages 6 1/2" - this is the size of each 1/4 section of the block (Of course you can use other foundation paper, some use graph paper, copy paper, tissue paper, anything you can tear.  Phone book paper is very thin and easy to tear.)

You'll need strips of scraps in your colors, these can also be random colors, and the strips should vary in widths.  

A solid strip for the center is usually 1" wide, but you can chose a wider version.  For this particular block I chose a black solid for the center strip that is 1" wide

You can glue stick this down on your paper, I just center it and hold it in place myself.  This piece is placed right side up

This paper is thin enough you don't need to lower your stitch length when stitching.  But you can if you prefer.  I leave mine at the normal stitch length

Chose your first strip and lay it right sides together on top of the black, and stitch one side through the foundation paper.  Press 

To make this block wonky, place your next strip off of the seam line, creating an off center seam line

Personally, going through the steps after the first strip is added, I fold back my foundation paper, not sewing through it.  It is there for you to follow the shape.  Sewing through gives you slightly more stability, but I don't think it's needed on such a small piece.  This is a personal choice after making several of these blocks, so it is up to you if you want to do this or sew through the foundation paper

You can trim off some of the excess as you go, I use scissors, I'm not getting up next to the foundation piece, just cutting off what is hanging way over

Now keep adding strips to one side, I make one side of the center black strip at a time, you can go back and forth if that way works for you

The back looks like this when you sew through the foundation just on the center black strip

After you have both sides together of the 1/4 section, trim to the 6 1/2" size of the foundation piece

Removing the paper is simple, it tears so easily, and quicker if you only made the two seams on the black strip

Sew the four sections together

Wonky String Block

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Drawing from the LIST

I know you have a LIST - I have a LIST - or rather multiple LISTS.  The LISTS of WIPs and quilts and quilted things to make for our family, friends, quilty swaps, commissions, ourselves (seems to be always last, that one) and things we just want to make because we feel like it.

Most of my LISTS are mental.  I'm afraid to write it all down.  It would just keep growing.  Safer inside my head, where somethings are actually made, things are moved around from LIST to LIST, and a few things, well they just get forgotten about, so they didn't really need to be on any list anyway.  

A few days ago, I drew from my LIST of 'I just feel like it'.  It's as long as the other LISTS, and is also a WIP.

I started these blocks sometime in 2012.  I started them to use in a swap, and then decided I wanted a whole quilt from them.  I kept these and made others for the swap.

I made a lot more blocks a few months ago, but not enough for an entire quilt.  And had to put them back away to focus on some other LIST.

I dug the blocks and fabrics out again last week, and finished all the blocks I could, I ran out of a few fabrics and I didn't want to add too many new ones.  With a border this will be a good size sofa quilt.  (This photo makes the colors seem darker than they actually are).

Boom, Check.  This one is off the WIP LIST  and moved over to the 'I need to quilt this LIST'

While finishing up the top, I thought about someone that this quilt will make a nice fit.  That happens sometimes for me, when I'm working on a project with no one in mind for the quilt, as the top takes shape, it will remind me of someone, or the colors seem a nice fit for a friend.  I hope to quilt next week.  I had to put it away after the border addition to focus on something else from some other LIST with an actual deadline.  

Hope you all are finding time for sewing or crafting and finding your happy place.

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Finished Friday?????

All day yesterday I thought I would put these photos on the blog and link to Finished Friday, TODAY.  Today is Saturday by the way.  I have lost a whole day somewhere.  And imagine waking up today, at 5, because you still think you have work.  Well,  I will still be working but hey, at least the phone wont' be ringing because it really isn't Friday!  

Sewing was slow going all week - and I would complain that I could only get to one block per night, but I think I will be grateful that I did have the time, energy, and supplies to make these blocks this week.  

I enjoy making this block so much.  It is colorful and can utilize scraps (who doesn't like that!) and it is simple.  Here is a quick tutorial on how to make this block.

I am adding five of these blocks to a top that is part of a Flickr group, Traveling Quilts.  We each started with a block or part of a top and it is being passed through the group and each person adds to the top.

I was reminded recently by another quilter that sometimes we let the little things get to us when really we don't have it so bad.  We are doing what we want to do.   

Someone else added these giraffes.  And it made me wish that this top was mine to keep.  The Mama giraffe and her line of offspring following her.

Sometimes we brighten someone else's day with a quilt or tote or little gift that we hand made.  Isn't it a wonderful day when you get that note or phone call or facebook post that someone received our gift and they love it?

The quilter this top belongs to started with the large one piece string block on the left side of the top.  I think we have complemented her colors and starter piece nicely.  I hope she will like this, it is going back to her next.  

That maybe we shouldn't complain about not having enough time to sew, but rejoice that we can do something we love when we have time to spare.  

Last one.  Colors not perfect on this one - it was hard to adjust and get the colors right.  

And this top is off today!  I love getting something off my 'projects for others' list - I know they are waiting anxiously for the return of their blocks or project.  

Have a great weekend quilty peeps!  

Linking up with Finished Friday even though its' Saturday

And another link party I found called Sew and Tell Saturday because it really is Saturday!

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Finishing up

Time to start checking things off my long long long list.

But first, last night

Him:  Why is your machine up on this counter

Me:  I just need the cover out of the attic and then I'm putting it in the closet, that one is the back up machine now.

Him:  I think I threw that out.

Me:  What?

Him:  I think I threw that out of the attic.  (chews on sandwich)

Me:  BLANK STARE

Him:  blank stare back while chewing sandwich

Me:  Are you serious?????

Him:  Serious. (chewing) 

Me:  BLANK STARE, PROCESSING INFORMATION

Me:  Why would you throw that out?  The cover for my machine?  Why can't you check with me before throwing out my stuff?  I may cry.  

Him:  I'm just kidding, I don't even know what you are talking about.

Me:  See?  This is why I need retail therapy.

Getting this baby gift Divided Fabric Basket out today.

I finished up burp cloths last night to fill it up.  These are just cloth diapers with flannel sewn down the center for extra absorbency and softness.  I made a whole package of diapers (10) but I'll hold on to a few for the next baby gift I need to send out. 

This is an angel mini made for the Traveling Quilts group.  One of the minis went missing, so I made a replacement.  I used a paper piece pattern from Craftsy.  The original was a star in bright colors.

I added a border for my round.  

That is two things I can check off as DONE.  Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Friday.  

Keep Calm andQuilt On!

Mary

Plowing through chores

This week has been hurly whirly - I feel like I just got started and here we are at the end.  As promised on Sew Sunday I spent most of that day cleaning my sewing room.  

A Before

After

Love it!

But some things had migrated over to here. Le Sigh.

Some wine through the evening helped me power through the organizing.

I pulled out my blocks I have received from the 3X6 Quarterly Sampler Bee, I think I have enough to be done with this color way.  I have a couple more blocks I am expecting, and I can always round it out with a few of my own if I feel it needs more.  

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Sew Sunday

What a week - Spring is here and the yard beckons, and the deck, and the lawn furniture, and the flower beds.  Then it turned back cool and rainy - so yay, back to the sewing room.  

I did get to finish the borders on this top.  The corners required more work after deciding on what I was doing with the borders, I had to make additional diagonal strips to have the corners match up with the rest of the diagonal strips.  Do you get that?  Because I'm confused reading it.  

I really like this, and now I won't want to give it up.  But I will.

Finishing up a few bee blocks - this one for Modern Mavericks - we are making black and white modern dresdens.  Anything goes, I like those directions.  

And these are the last two blocks for the 3X6 bee.  I have to get them out on Monday.

I'm scared to list what I need to work on today -

VBMQG pillow cover for swap

Postage Stamp Blocks for swap 

Traveling Quilt pass

Stripper Quilt pass

Back for finished top

Paper piece blocks for Forest QAL 

I hope to have at least a few of these to show later in the week.  And then edit my blog for spring, add some more blogs I read to the list, fix that Instagram link - I can't remember where I got those cute little link buttons for flickr and pinterest, so I have to find them all over again and make anew.  

I'm practicing on Instagram - I like it, I think.  Figured out how to follow and I'm working on that #hashtag thing.  My follow button is on the right side bar, if you want to look me up - I'll be happy to follow you too!  

WIP Wednesday

I am trying trying trying to get this top done.  It is confounding me.  I had plans to finish this last weekend, but the borders tripped me up.  

I did finally figure out which bee this was from - a bee from long long ago - Threadheads - a bee where I made my first mod mosaic block, first dresden plate block, and first X and plus block.  

My troubles began because this top looked fine just the way it is, without a border.  But I was determined to use this fabric in the borders.  The fabric in the front - Joel Dewberry Aviary2 in the purple color way.  The whole reason I picked this block and wanted to make this quilt.

So I tried just putting the fabric by itself next to the top.  I felt this just framed the center, looked very stark, and I thought I could do better. (bad night photo)

Then I made 12.5" blocks that matched the center blocks.  Luckily, I am a hoarder collector organized individual, and I had all the fabrics and cut strips together from sending out these blocks ever so long ago.  And I had all the blocks together, it amazed me just a little.  

This isn't really talking to me either, except to say 'not quite right'.

Next, I cut those just sewn together strips and blocks in half.  Now, I'm starting to see where I want to go.

I am able to utilize both sides of the cut in half block - thank goodness, was so afraid I was wasting so much - The hardest part is making sure I have the birds in the fabric going in the correct direction.  I could have mixed it up, but i think it will finish better with the birds sitting up instead of going every whichaway.  ( another bad night time photo)

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

He almost had me at Basting Spray

Him:  Why is the window open?  It's freezing in here.

Me:  Oh, that's because I'm using this basting spray that I love.  Check it out!

Him:  Why would you want to use that?

Me:  Well, I'm saving time by not having to pin.  And then when I'm quilting not having to take all the pins out.

Him:  I think you should go back to pins.

Me:  Well, so far I love this stuff, it works great.  

Him:  It's a gimmick.

Me:  A gimmick?

Him;  Yes, you'll use up that bottle then have to buy more, pins you buy once.

Me:  Oh.  For a second I thought you might be concerned about the environment or something.

Him:  No, I want you to stop wasting money on gimmicky tools.

Me:  Well, then don't look in that bag over there.  

I went through my groups on Flickr - I was in over 200, and several were QAL I never did, some I joined but never contributed or participated, old  Bees, Swaps that were over.  Several I did exit out of (un-join?), but going through some of the old bees was a nice reminder of blocks that I had made and had made for me.  I'm down to around 170 groups now, and I am going through more.  It's Flickr Spring Cleaning.  

Some bee blocks I have made this week and sent on to their homes.  

Pebble block for Modern Mavericks  March block using r0ssie's tutorial.  I wasn't entirely comfortable making this block, I think if asked to do another I could make the flipping part a little better.  

Sewn Together April Block, only had to make 1 block, it's very soft and I can tell the quilt will be pretty.

Simply Solids for April.  These blocks were to be improv low volume with pops of the colors.  Should make an interesting quilt.  

Also Sewn Together, March Tiki Hut log cabin blocks, these are 6 1/2" blocks which she is going to use in the border of a quilt.  

These are my only 3 bees currently.  I'm also in three groups where we pass along the blocks or strips.  One quarterly group that finishes next week, I can rejoin this any quarter.  Two swaps that finish this month.  One is my own swap if you haven't had time to look at it yet, mailing date for USA participants is not until May 1, so plenty of time to make the simple scrappy Postage Stamp Block.